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Thursday, 4 October 2018

The Sussexes Tour Itinerary: "Building an Enduring Relationship" with Four Commonwealth Countries!

As hoped for, Kensington Palace released the itinerary for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's first major royal tour of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga. We expected to see a packed schedule, and that is very much the case, with several royal reporters who attended a Palace press briefing today reporting the couple will undertake somewhere in the region of seventy-six engagements. Yes, seventy-six! The meticulously planned trip will see a busy schedule on each of the sixteen days with no moment wasted. Key areas of focus include Invictus Sydney, Commonwealth youth, the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy, the environment and military. For the Duchess, she will put her own stamp on the trip with engagements focused on women and girls, with solo engagements and speeches planned. A Palace aide said: "She's a very confident speaker. When the Duchess launched Together she spoke confidently, and off the cuff. It's only natural at some of the events she's doing by herself that she would want to speak."

The Palace said: "There is a long history of friendship between The Royal Family and Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand, and their links with the UK are extensive. The Duke and Duchess are very much looking forward to experiencing the unique cultures and customs of these four Commonwealth countries, and have asked that this tour allow them opportunities to meet as many Australians, Fijians, Tongans and New Zealanders as possible. Together they look forward to building an enduring relationship with the people of the region." Omid Scobie revealed the royals will travel with private secretary Samantha Cohen; the Queen's former assistant private secretary is Australian and the ideal aide to guide the Sussexes. They will also be joined by deputy private secretary Amy Pickerell, who has been by Meghan's side since the engagement announcement; three communications officers, a programme coordinator, orderly, personal assistant, digital officer and hairdresser.

'Across this sixteen day tour, Their Royal Highnesses' programme will focus on youth leadership, and projects being undertaken by young people to address the social, economic, and environmental challenges of the region. The Duke is particularly keen to highlight these youth-led initiatives in his new role as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador, and to shine a light on the work and aspirations of young people across the Commonwealth.

The visit will also concentrate on environmental and conservation efforts, from engaging the local community in forest protection schemes in Colo-i-Suva, to the promotion of sustainable tourism on Fraser Island. The Duke and Duchess will dedicate a number of projects to The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy in each country, learning more about local conservation initiatives, whilst visiting some of the region's most beautiful landscapes.

A major focus for Their Royal Highnesses will also be the Invictus Games Sydney 2018. The Duke and Duchess are excited to see Sydney fully embrace the Invictus spirit, and to support the competitors as they compete across a range of sports at some of the city's most iconic venues. This year's Games will emphasise the integral role played by servicemen and women's family and friends, and Their Royal Highnesses will spend time with a number of the competitors' supporters as they cheer them on from the side-lines.'

Let's take a look at the very exciting itinerary!

Tuesday, 16 October

The tour kicks off in Sydney on Tuesday, 16 October, with several engagements planned. They begin at Admiralty House, the official Sydney residence of the Governor-General of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove, who will welcome them to his home which offers spectacular views across Sydney Harbour. Representatives from each of the eighteen countries who are participating in the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 will be present.

The Duke and Duchess will then travel to Taronga Zoo to officially open the new Taronga Institute of Science and Learning. During this visit, Harry and Meghan will meet two koalas and their joeys that are part of the zoo’s breeding programme, and visit the laboratory to meet female conservation scientists who are working on efforts to reduce illegal wildlife trafficking. A number of readers will recall the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge brought nine-month-old Prince George to the same zoo during their 2014 tour.

Afterwards, the Duke and Duchess will travel by vessel across Sydney Harbour to Sydney Opera House. They will view a rehearsal of Spirit 2018 by the Bangarra Dance Theatre, an internationally acclaimed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander modern dance company. Upon departure, walking along the Opera House forecourt, the Duke and Duchess will have an opportunity to meet members of the public. Since their engagement, meeting as many people as possible has been a priority for the pair; we can expect to see that continue throughout the tour.

The first day concludes with a reception hosted by the Governor-General at Admiralty House, to be attended by Australians from a broad range of sectors including charity and community, business and industry, arts and culture, sport and entertainment.

Wednesday, 17 October

On day two of the tour, Harry and Meghan will fly to the town of Dubbo, situated on the Macquarie River, 300 kilometres northwest of Sydney. On arrival in Dubbo, the Duke and Duchess will visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service to learn more about the life-saving role the aviation service provides for people living in rural and regional areas.

The Palace added:

"With most of the state of New South Wales suffering from drought, Their Royal Highnesses will see first-hand the hardships local farmers are facing by visiting a local property. The Duke and Duchess will then travel to Victoria Park to join people from Dubbo and surrounding areas at a picnic in the park to celebrate community spirit within the region. Members of the public are invited to attend, and Harry will give an address.

In the afternoon, The Duke and Duchess will visit a local school working to improve the education outcomes of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Students will open up their classrooms to present their work and participate in a session of netball and touch football drills on the school oval, highlighting the importance of sport in education."

Thursday, 18 October

Harry and Meghan will fly to Melbourne where the day will begin with a short walk to Government House, meeting members of the public along the way, before attending an official reception at Government House. A diverse group of young Victorian leaders and community members will attend the reception, including Queen's Young Leader Hunter Johnson from the Man Cave. A demonstration of various sporting activities will take place in the grounds, with ambassadors from the This Girl Can campaign. The campaign was developed by Sport England to promote sport amongst women.

Next, the Duke and Duchess will visit a social enterprise café which offers leadership, mentoring and training programmes for young Aboriginal people. In the afternoon, the Sussexes will visit a primary school to meet students who are involved in sustainability programmes. Upon departure from the school, they will travel on an iconic Melbourne tram to South Melbourne beach, where they will meet volunteers from a local beach patrol programme. They will learn about efforts to keep Port Phillip Bay beaches and foreshores clear of litter to reduce the negative impact on the marine environment.

Friday, 19 October

Day four of the tour will see Harry and Meghan return to Sydney. In the morning, they will visit Bondi Beach, one of Australia’s most famous landmarks. The Duke and Duchess will meet a local surfing community group, known as OneWave, raising awareness for mental health and wellbeing in a fun and engaging way. Their Royal Highnesses will take part in the "Fluro Friday" session, where people of all ages share their experiences of mental health issues, and will have the opportunity to interact with others enjoying yoga and surfing. Before departing, the Duke and Duchess will have an opportunity to meet members of the public gathered on the beach.

Next, they will take part in a youth advocate programme that aims to unite and inspire young people to be advocates for cohesion and inclusion in their communities. The couple will also engage with students as they discuss issues including social justice and youth empowerment. Following this event, accompanied by the Prime Minister the Honourable Scott Morrison MP and Invictus Games competitors, Harry will climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge to officially raise the Invictus flag, marking the arrival of the Invictus Games to Sydney.

They will conclude the day with calls on the Leader of the Opposition at Admiralty House, and the Prime Minister at Kirribilli House.

Saturday, 20 October

Saturday, 20 October is all about Invictus! The Duke and Duchess will travel by boat to attend the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge on Cockatoo Island. In the evening, they will attend a Reception hosted by the NSW Premier, the Honourable Gladys Berejiklian MP, inside the Opera House. The day will conclude with the Invictus Games opening ceremony, which will take place on the forecourt of the Opera House. ABC will broadcast the opening ceremony live on ABC 1 across Australia and internationally through live streaming. Below, the official uniforms for staff and volunteers.

Sunday, 21 October

Harry and Meghan will watch some elements of the Invictus Games, including cycling and sailing, and attend a lunchtime reception hosted by the Prime Minister of Australia, with Invictus Games competitors and representatives from the community in the city’s central parkland, the Domain.

Monday, 22 October

The next stop on the royal tour is Queensland's Fraser Island, or K’gari as it's known by the Traditional Owners, the Butchulla people, as part of the dedication of the site to the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy. The Duke and Duchess will be met upon arrival by the Traditional Owners of K'gari, the Butchulla People and the Premier of Queensland. They will take part in a traditional Welcome to Country Smoking Ceremony and unveil a plaque for the dedication of the Forests of K’gari to the QCC. Traditional Owners from Bulburin National Park, the second QCC dedication site in Queensland, will also be present. Fraser Island rainforest is home to the island’s satinay trees which, known for their hardiness in water, were used to build the London docks in the 1930s.

The Duke and Duchess will then visit one of Fraser Island’s iconic lakes to meet with local elders and national park rangers to learn about the island’s natural beauty, rich history, biodiversity and cultural significance. From here, they will travel to the beach to learn about the history of the island’s logging trade, as well as its use as a training base for the Australian Z Special Unit during World War II. They will then travel to Kingfisher Bay by boat, where the visit will conclude with a walk along the picturesque Kingfisher Bay jetty. The day promises to be produce stunning photos.

Tuesday, 23 October
The following day, the Duke and Duchess will travel by charter flight to Fiji's capital Suva, where they will embark on a three-day programme, experiencing the rich Fijian culture and generous hospitality. On arrival, the Duke and Duchess will be greeted by a guard of honour at the airport, before calling on His Excellency the President of Fiji at Borron House. The Duke and Duchess will then attend an official welcome ceremony in the city centre's Albert Park. The ceremony, known as the Veirqaraqaravi Vakavanua, embodies Fijian cultural identity and heritage, and will mirror in format that of the one attended by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in 1953. It will involve a number of traditional elements of Fijian culture, including dance performances, the presentation of the tabua, and a kava ceremony. Members of the public from across Suva will be invited to attend.

Below, the Queen receiving a bouquet of Fijian flowers from Adi Kaunilotuma, a Fijian princess. The Princess wore a dress bearing the Royal Crown motif.

From there, the Duke and Duchess will leave Albert Park for the Grand Pacific Hotel to attend a reception and a State dinner hosted by the President of Fiji.

Wednesday, 24 October
Harry will lay a wreath at the Fiji War Memorial, and meet a number of Fijian war veterans, some of whom served with the British Armed Forces. Links between the British Military and Fiji continue to this day with more than 1,250 Fijians currently serving in the British Army. The royals will then visit the University of the South Pacific campus in Suva, where they will observe a cultural performance on the effects of climate change, before meeting students studying subjects from agriculture to women’s development. The event will be streamed to a number of the university's campuses throughout the Pacific region. The Duke will make a short speech in his capacity as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador, and the Duchess will say a few words.

The Palace added:

'From there Harry and Meghan will split and carry out separate engagements – Prince Harry will travel to Colo-i-Suva Forest Park, and The Duchess to the British High Commissioner’s Residence. Colo-i-Suva is an indigenous forest site housing many flora and fauna native to Fiji, and species including the Fiji Tree Frog. It is also Fiji's dedication to The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy. Before unveiling a plaque to mark its dedication and planting an endangered native tree, Harry will meet with school children, student conservators, representatives from sustainable tourism industries, and local landowners and villagers to see how the rainforest impacts upon their education and livelihoods.'

Meanwhile, Meghan will attend a morning tea at the British High Commissioner’s Residence to showcase women's organisations which operate throughout Fiji. In particular, the Duchess will hear more about a UN Women's project, 'Markets for Change', which promotes women's empowerment in marketplaces throughout the Pacific. Meghan served as an ambassador for UN Women and the day ties in very well with her interests. The Duchess will then travel to Suva Market to meet some of the female vendors who have become empowered through the project.

"The engagements have been chosen by the host countries, taking into account Meghan's passion for gender equality. "It's her first tour. It's all very new and quite daunting in terms of the choice (of engagements), Fiji asked the Duchess to do those events. There's a movement in Fiji to encourage women to move away from the stereotypical roles of cooking and looking after children."

Thursday, 25 October

The Duke and Duchess will travel to the city of Nadi in Western Fiji, where they will attend a special event at Nadi Airport. After an official welcome ceremony, the Duke and Duchess will unveil a new statue commemorating Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba, a British-Fijian soldier who lost his life in the 1972 Battle of Mirbat. The event will be attended by the President of Fiji, and senior representatives from government and the Armed Forces.

From Nadi Airport, Their Royal Highnesses will take a chartered flight to Tonga, where they will be met at Fua'amotu Airport by Her Royal Highness the Princess Angelika Latufuipeka. That evening, the Duke and Duchess will visit Consular House in central Nuku'alofa for a private audience with His Majesty King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipauʻu, to be followed by an official reception and dinner, and traditional Tongan entertainment.

Friday, 26 October

The Duke and Duchess will visit the St George Building for a call on the Prime Minister S. Akilisi Pohiva and members of the cabinet. From there, they will attend an exhibition with the Princess Angelika at the Faonelua Centre, celebrating Tongan handicrafts and products, including traditional mats and 'tapa' cloth. The couple will also have the opportunity to meet local Tongan traders and craftsmen.

The Duke and Duchess will then travel to Tupou College, which is the oldest secondary school in the Pacific, founded by a British missionary in 1866. They will dedicate two forest reserves at the school's on-site forest, the Toloa Forest Reserve, the last remaining forest area on Tonga’s main island of Tongatabu, and the Eua National Park Forest Reserve, located at the Island of Eua – to the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy. The Tupou College Boys will perform traditional Tongan music to commemorate the event.

From Tupou College, the Duke and Duchess will travel to the Royal Palace for an official farewell with the King before departing for Sydney. That evening in Sydney, Harry and Meghan will attend the Australian Geographic Society Awards, an annual gathering of Australia's brightest and best in exploration, science and conservation. They will present youth awards to honour the highest achievements in conservation and adventure.

Saturday, 27 October

The Duke and Duchess will spend the afternoon at the wheelchair basketball finals at the Quay Centre, before attending the Closing Ceremony that evening at Qudos Bank Arena. The event, at which both the Duke and Duchess will speak, promises to be a celebration of the outstanding achievements and inspiring spirit of Invictus Games competitors. Last year, Meghan, Doria and friends attending the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games. One year later, as a member of the Royal family, she will very fittingly deliver a speech.

Sunday, 28 Ocotber

The final leg of the tour will see the couple travel to New Zealand for several days of exciting engagements. They will join a number of Invictus competitors on a Royal New Zealand Air Force flight to Wellington. They will be met off the plane together by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Harry and Meghan will attend the traditional welcome ceremony on the lawns of Government House – the residence of the Governor-General to New Zealand Dame Patsy Reddy. They will be invited to hongi with the Governor-General’s kuia and kaumātua (Māori elders), before the pōwhiri, which includes a haka performed by members of the New Zealand Defence Force. The ceremony will also include a 21-gun salute, and will be attended by school children.

They will then travel to the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park. Here, they will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, and will visit the newly unveiled UK War Memorial – whose design takes the form of two of the United Kingdom and New Zealand’s most iconic trees – the Royal Oak and a pōhutakawa. This engagement will be followed by a public walkabout in Memorial Park.

That evening, the Duke and Duchess will receive official calls from the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition at Government House, before attending a reception hosted by the Governor General celebrating the 125th anniversary of women’s suffrage in New Zealand. A Palace aide told Hello!: "New Zealand has hosted very very many royal visits and they offered up these engagements and the Duchess thought they were all very good. New Zealand has a strong tradition of female empowerment and it's the 125th anniversary of suffrage and they happen to be there for the anniversary of a historic time."

Monday, 29 October

The next morning, the Duke and Duchess will visit Maranui, one of Wellington’s most iconic cafes. They will meet young people from a number of mental health projects operating in New Zealand offering support to other young people through helplines, social media, websites and school-based programmes. From Wellington, the Duke and Duchess will travel to Abel Tasman National Park, which sits at the north-eastern tip of the South Island, and is an area famed for its golden beaches and native bush walks. Their Royal Highnesses will be greeted by a traditional welcome ceremony on arrival, before embarking on a trail walk with one of the park's rangers to learn more about the history of the forest and the environmental challenges of protecting the park's habitat. Before departing, the Duke and Duchess will join some of the park's young ambassadors and local school children at a barbecue lunch and for a tree planting.

That evening back in Wellington, Harry and Meghan will visit Courtenay Creative for an event celebrating the city’s thriving creative arts scene. Courtney Creative runs programmes to give young people the tools and experience to excel in the film industry, and the Duke and Duchess will meet a number of young creatives demonstrating their skills in props, make-up, and costume. The engagement is a very nice nod to Meghan's acting career.

Tuesday, 30 October

The penultimate day of the tour will see the Sussexes travel to Auckland, where they will first visit the North Shore to dedicate a 20 hectare area of native bush to the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy. After unveiling the plaque, the Duke and Duchess will hear more about the ecological importance of the native bush, before joining children from the 'Trees in Survival' group in a ‘welly-wanging’ contest.

They will then join the Prime Minister to visit Pillars, a charity operating across New Zealand that supports children who have a parent in prison through the provision of special mentoring schemes. As a wedding present to the Duke and Duchess, the Government of New Zealand gifted $5000 dollars to Pillars, and Harry and Meghan will have the opportunity to meet some of the children who have directly benefitted from this funding.

Later that afternoon, the Duke and Duchess will have the opportunity to meet the people of Auckland on the Viaduct Harbour, before attending a reception hosted by the Prime Minister at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. This reception will include cultural performances and entertainment by members of the Pasifika community living in Auckland. The guests will be predominantly young people in the 17 to 25-year age group who are making significant contributions to the wellbeing of their communities, representing the future of New Zealand.

Wednesday, 31 October

The final day of the tour will take place in Rotorua, a town set on Lake Rotorua, renowned for its geothermal activity and Maori culture. The Duke and Duchess will first visit Te Papaiouru Marae, for a formal pōwhiri and luncheon in Harry and Meghan's honour.

Next, the Duke and Duchess will head to Rainbow Springs to learn more about the centre’s kiwi breeding programme. Kiwis, which are New Zealand’s national bird, have become increasingly endangered in recent years, and Their Royal Highnesses will meet conservationists working to protect the species. They will also have the opportunity to name two young kiwi chicks at Rainbow Springs.

Later that afternoon, the Duke and Duchess will head into the city for the chance to meet members of the public gathered there. They will then travel to Redwoods Treewalk Rotorua. The treewalk is a 700m-long walkway of suspension bridges between 117-year-old Redwood trees. The forest is also the home to a thriving mountain biking community that draws people of all ages to the Redwoods. The Duke and Duchess will learn more about the forest’s history as they take on the tree walk, and will then meet invited representatives of the local biking community under the forest canopy.

Harry and Meghan will return to Auckland that evening, before departing for London the following day.

My goodness, it's certainly quite the itinerary, isn't it? The schedule marries several of the couple's key interests, with their roles as Commonwealth ambassadors, representatives of the Queen and a key interest in highlighting all four of the countries they will be visiting. Meghan's first Commonwealth tour is going to be a huge undertaking and an unforgettable experience. I'm very excited to see the inclusion of her interest in women and girls and of course hearing her speeches. It's undoubtedly going to be a terrific sixteen days. Are you looking forward to it? :)

Over the next week, we'll be looking at Royal Collection jewellery possibilities and designers we could see the Duchess wearing! :)

Thanks for the thorough rundown, Charlotte! You won’t believe how excited I am! I’m very impressed by their schedule...so many fantastic engagements & organisations involved. I’m sure H&M are just excited as we all are ;) I especially like the focus on youth & conservation projects, while also highlighting women in business & science etc. & who can forget the incredible Invictus Games. It’s so nice they’re flying to Wellington with some of the athletes; what a display of comradery! It all really does bring a massive smile to my face :D There’s so much (too much!) else to comment on, so I’ll just wait for the tour to commence 🇦🇺🇫🇯🇹🇴🇳🇿 Bring it on! :)P.S. That little kiwi is too sweet!

Are you in Wellington Kiwi Gal? I'll be going to the walkabout at the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park - Emily Andrews said on On Heir that they'll be landing in Wellington around 3pm so plenty of time for us to stake out the best spots :D

You excel always, Charlotte, and I especially enjoy your tremendous efforts on these Royal tours. Rest, hydrate, eat healthy! What a packed itinerary for them. I know you will be working just as hard. Can’t wait. Looking for Meg to wear the retro 50’s, mid-calf, circle skirts that suit her so beautifully. I know she will meet the challenge of a major tour so early in her tenure with all the enthusiasm and compassion we’ve seen the first months. Brava, Duchess!I hope you will post a photo of New Zealand’s critically endangered orange-fronted parakeet during this tour. They deserve our help.

This is an amazing schedule! I can't believe how much they have packed in, with no days off. This is going to be an insanely fun 2 weeks for us :) 76 engagements....WOW!

I am so happy to see that Meghan will be off doing her own engagements during the tour. And doing the engagement with the UN-related organization. That's fabulous. I have been so impressed by her passion, preparedness, energy, and excitement. The photos from Sussex of her (and Harry) interacting with the crowds were just wonderful. I can't wait to see her speech, and she'll speak at Invictus too! I feel so spoiled. I'm soooo excited.

I'm really hoping that the Fiji state dinner on the 23rd will be a tiara affair. Charlotte - do you know? They typically are, right? (I'm thinking back to some of the BRF state dinners...definitely tiaras.) I would LOVE to see Meghan rocking a tiara during the tour.

I have wondered how much of the Royal Collection she would ever wear:). I just can not imagine Meghan in many of the royal jewels except for a few select pieces. Maybe a super simple diamond bracelet or simple diamond stud? Maybe she will do something with a broach in her hair. Will be fun to see over the years what she wears.

I'm just curious, Ali, how come you can't imagine her in many of the royal jewels? Because of her minimalist jewelry style or because of Harry's line not being the "heir" line? If it's the latter, Sophie wears tons of family jewels so I would imagine Meghan should/will have access to as many, or even more, since she's "higher up" than Sophie.

In my mind, I think (in the past) there would have been several pieces that would have already been allocated by the queen for Harry's (future) wife. Plus, Charles seems very generous with jewels so I'd imagine once he becomes king that both his sons' wives will gain access to new pieces or pieces will be re-distributed as Camilla wears some of QEII's pieces and then some of her regular pieces would transfer to Kate and Meghan.

It's interesting that in the past, other monarchs/consorts have had so many different jewels/tiaras reset or re-designed...I wonder if this might happen with QEII and Charles so Meghan and Kate can have pieces that better fit their personalities and style while still being "family/royal" pieces. That would be exciting! I'd really love for the Strathmore Rose tiara to see the light of day again, and think the floral style would fit Meghan quite well with her well-known love of flowers. Maybe cleaned up and reset in a new frame, or maybe even - as you said - made into hair brooches/clips. That would be lovely.

Inthekitchen, the styling of so many of the Royal Jewels just do not seem her taste or style at all, But there may be all sorts of more delicate pieces I am not familiar with. Some of those cuff style diamond bracelets Catherine wears I could see on Meghan.

@inthekitchen I agree with @ali that the style of the royal jewels we've seen don't exactly suit her. She might have to grow into them. It would be nice to see some of the old pieces reset for Kate or Meghan. QEII doesn't have an eye for design, but Charles could do it.

Wow, I cannot even comprehend doing such a tour. I'm so excited and really glad Meghan has taken to royal life so well. That she is doing such a long and intense tour, with a solo engagement and speeches, only 6 months into her marriage is truly amazing!

I certainly do agree. No fluff and holiday left in there. I can hardly wait for the tour begin, and read your wonderful coverage Charlotte! I know you never ask a thing but last time bluhare suggested to fund you a bit for coffee or anything, so please let us know if we can help you out, this is really a minimum for the work you do here!!

I completely agree! You put so much work into this post alone, I'm sure a 16 day tour will leave you time for nothing else. Your blogs are so well reseaeched and so well written- they're the only place I go when I want to read about both the DoC and the DoS. I'm always happy to pay for quality news services I subscribe to, so yes, please let us know if we can help if any way!

I would also contribute. I know you likely get Adsense revenue and such but still. I will likely never click on ads nor most affiliate links here unfortunately. But I would gladly contribute a few bob to Patreon or the UK equivalent the I know of - Kofi.

Kiwi Gal, I thought of you and how excited you must be..., and your comment says it all! 😄How could you not be thrilled, seeing the baby kiwi! 😃Looking forward to your comments during the whole tour.😉Charlotte, thank you for this, it is an amazing post!

Zora, my reply to you disappeared! But yes, the sight of my little namesake kiwi made me happy :) Can't wait to get stuck into Charlotte's wonderful coverage of the tour & share in all the excitement with you all!

I can't wait for them to visit Sydney, going to try and take baby out for the day to catch a glimpse haha!Last year on our trip to NZ (funnily enough at the same time as they will be there!!) we went to rainbow springs and the redwood treees and it was very interesting and beautiful as well as fun!! Can't wait!!!

Oh dear that is jam packed. I would literally die of exhaustion if I had to undertake such a schedule. I hope they get SOME downtime, but it does not seem like that at all. Even the evenings seem taken up by events, phew. How will they stay excited with meeting people the whole time, I wonder. Good luck to them. I am looking forward to the tour, it just seems to busy for my liking.

Thank you fr the low down on everything - it must have taken you ages to put this post together so thank you! I note with a little sadness that M&H will miss the Dutch State Visit back home but needs must!Thanks again for your great post.

Wow. That what an impressive schedule indeed. I had my doubts if Meghan would be able to deliver after the huge build up they did. But till now she fulfilled the expectations. While I still struggle with her style sometimes the look from Sussex was a huge win. I am very excited to see what the tour will bring on fashion wise.C.

Oh my goodness, I'm exhausted just reading all of that! What a fantastic and diverse line-up for a tour - this is now the most excited I've been about any royal visit for quite some time. Meghan really is throwing herself into her new role and hitting the ground running, as we all knew she would. I absolutely can't wait, but I do feel for you Charlotte - it sounds like you're not going to get much rest!

Wow, Charlottte, thank you for all the work you’ve put into this tour already! And with 76 engagements, you’ll be quite busy, too!

I’m very excited for this tour. I think Will and Kate’s Australian tour was when I first started following her fashion closely, so this will bring back those memories of the first royal tour I watched closely. I am curious to see Meghan in the “outdoorsy events, as we really haven’t seen her in that setting yet. Can’t wait (and also happy I’ll still be on maternity leave to see everything as new pics come in each day!)

I avidly started following her during that tour too, Courtney. As a matter of fact, that is when I found this blog. I was on vaction with my family and wanted in depth coverage with lots of pictures. Don't know how I found Charlotte but I'm glad I did.

Only since then, bluhare. I did a major catch up after the tour coverage, going back and reading all of Charlotte's posts (clearly having had too much time on my hands back then). I wasn't a big fan of Kate's for a long time. When they married, I thought she'd last two to five years. Ha! How long have you been reading this blog, bluhare?

The kate one? Boy, I really dont remember. I was the first consistent poster who was critical and I think Charlotte was quite suspicious of me in those days! And I was not rude unless someone was rude to me which happened several times. I refused to let them chase me off though. I remember saying I'd leave if I got bored and that would be the only reason unless.charlotte asked.

What an absolute amazing opportunity for all of us to once again be invited along with H&M on their tour. Thank you Charlotte. I would put odds on Meghan having 32 changes and most definitely mixing and matching as the tour goes on. I do believe a get away will be in order for some R&R upon their return and well deserved.

j-10 My God, I'm so in a hurry and tired reading the whole program. These 2 are real workmen I hope they have time to enjoy these wonderful trips. Meghan equals herself by focusing on women. Side dress is going to be a festival I would like to see in cooler outfits.

Wow! Oh my goodness that is going to be some Tour! It sounds wonderful & seems to hit all the right notes. I must admit to feeling a little tug at the end of an era. My take is that Harry sounds like he is moving away from his fully hands on position with "his baby" Invictus & passing it on to others as it becomes not just the games he gave birth to, but a fully realized worldwide competition & celebration! He should be so proud of how his idea has grown & of course just like raising children.... you ultimately want them to be able to stand on their own & thrive. I imagine he will always be involved & hold positions within the entity... but it is now something that he can make an appearance at & then leave them to it. Also, I was struck by 2 things..... the visual of seeing Meghan & Harry at the games last year just making their first public appearance officially as a couple to now, as they will be heading out on their first commonwealth tour as a married couple & with Meghan possibly saying some words at the closing ceremony..at which last year we only saw her watching him! The second is seeing the photo of W&K at the zoo with baby George & I was shocked to know it was just 4 years ago & here we are 4yrs on & they have 3 children! It reminds me of the quote "years go fast & days go slow". I mean wow! Such congratulations as they take on this wonderful tour, it looks amazing! Blessings.p.s. on a personal note, I am sort of bummed as I am prepping to be away again on film business & will be caught up in my own crazy schedule until Nov. So I hope I can sneak a peak at the end of some of my days, because otherwise oh my..... I will surely come back to a lot of reading for sure! Blessings & appreciation Charlotte for all the work you will be doing & I'm sure already are doing, in order to cover this tour! :) xx

Thank you for this extremely thorough write-up! Disappointed I don’t detect any tiara chances :-(. I wonder if anyone can shed any light as to whether tiara events will be even less common than the Cambridge’s? I would assume so, given rank. I just want to calibrate my expectations :-).

Also I bet we’ll see Dussex in some mega jewelry at some point, i’m Excited to see her take on some of the more “old fashioned” pieces. My guess is she’ll juxtapose with incredibly sleek outfit choices. Or I hope she will - that’s what I would do!

Camilla has never worn a tiara on tour, so I think it’s safe to say that Catherine and Meghan won’t either. Tours simply aren’t structured this way for anyone but the Queen and she no longer does international tours.

before Kate William first royal tour Kensington released this official photo can we expect a photo like Cambridges have?https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/106/590x/duke-duchess-of-cambridge-make-official-visit-poland-germany-774699.jpg

I am so excited for this tour to start! Every event is so meaningful and apropos--the itinerary is jam packed!Charlotte, I think I need to send you Starbucks gift cards so that you can remain fueled throughout your coverage! LOL! I'm looking forward to experiencing everything with this great community of Meghan and Harry supporters. I know from following past tour coverage that we are in for a treat. :)Have a fantastic weekend, everyone.ShantelMinnesota, USA

Thank you Charlotte for this thorough post. It's going to be a great tour and, I am afraid, a lot of work for you. But it will be fun! I am surprised they don't get a day off to adjust for the jet lag (It took me at least 3 full days when I went there). This tour will give highlights of different aspects of Australia and other countries and so we will be able to see M&H with projects and causes they champion but in different contexts. I bet Meghan will be a bit nervous but will deal perfectly as she always does; and Australia offers beautiful natural landscape and so much diversity! So, everything will be new for her. Talking about style, I was living in Brisbane when K&W came to visit down under in 2014,and Kate was beautiful in different outfits... yellow "banana" in Sydney and white floral blue dress in Brisbane. Absolutely stunning. I am saying this not to compare but just to say good luck! I look forward to see M&H at the Invictus Games and other events! So, as they say... "slip, slop, slap, seek & slide"...for the new groom and bride! :) :)

Wow, so excited for the tour! And for the upcoming royal wedding, so much fun! On a different note I am HORRIFIED at the half-sister showing up and crashing Kensignton Palace! What a nightmare! I applaud Meghan and Harry and the Royal Family for keeping their cool yet drawing firm boundaries - it is exactly the right way to handle these kinds of toxic people. I feel so badly for Meghan, I know what it's like to have awful family members, and I'm sure she was hoping an ocean would provide plenty of separation, but they have absolutely NO shame!!!! I truly hope they stop this disgusting harassment. Makes me so mad!

Charlotte, do you know if it is true that Harry/Meghan are or are ready to move into the renovated "apartment" next to Will and Kate? If so, that is quite a transition, although I bet Meghan has been lining up furnishings for months.

Diane, it reminds me of my awful sister-in-law. She surfaced this week to tell us of a family death and then got so worked up in a series of 20 emails that she threatened to never contact us again if my husband didn't immediately forgive his family for some atrocious acts. "Just forget about the past and move on. We will forgive you." I thought of Meghan and realized how her behavior is the best. It made me look up a series of "it's about our actions, not our words" sayings and was going to send them to sister-in-law but realized that would just add fuel. I'm afraid someone will next fund the whole family showing up in England and putting on a show. Of course, Meghan does not have to even know they are there and I'm sure Harry has made sure the Markles cannot physically intrude on Meghan.

On yet another topic, I would love to know the total sales so far for the cookbook. I try to Google it but just get the first week vague reports.

And still another topic---Meghan is a natural speech-giver. She seems to love it and has an excellent engaging manner. Definitely not a "chore" for her. I look forward to her solo engagements during the tour.

Apartment 1 seems like the perfect fit for Harry and Meghan. William and Harry decided to base their families at KP some time ago. According to a number of reports, the Gloucesters are more than happy to move. However, KP have told reporters a number of times they have no plans to leave Nottingham Cottage in the near future and the current renovations on the apartment were in the planning long before Harry and Meghan were engaged.

Thank you, Charlotte! I also read all those reports of some house the Queen supposedly gave Harry and Meghan, which appear to be false. I imagine they have plenty of room between their cottage and their country rental. Seems premature to need Apt 1 right now.

I suspect there is a lot involved in renovating Apt 1. The Gloucesters are said to be moving into the apartment where the Queen's private secretary lived, so that apt probably needed renovations before the Gloucesters move into it. Apt 1 may take a while, there could be issues of plumbing, electrical, internet, all sorts of things, asbestos removal even if that hasn't been done. Anyone know how long the Gloucesters have lived in Apt 1? My mother's home was built in the 70's and it still has asbestos in the ceiling that will need to be removed someday.

What a full iternery - I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of coverage this gets worldwide, and the impact the tour will have. It's certainly going to keep you busy Charlotte!!

It's a shame no tiaras, as her wedding tiara is on display back here in the UK isnt it? so we could have seen a potential new lend! I'm sure, as some posters have already stated, there should be the obligatory bling loaned - The Australian wattle brooch and New Zealand fern brooch at least?

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